Other Olympic Speed Skating
Medalists with Wisconsin Ties

Edward S. Murphy (1905-1973)

1932 Olympics, Lake Placid, New York
Silver Medal, 5000 meters

Edward was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin but moved to Chicago, Illinois as a young child. He first competed in the 1928 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where he finished 5th in the 1500 meters, 10th in the 500 meters, and 14th in the 5000 meters.

Leo Freisinger (1916-1985)

1936 Olympics, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Bronze Medal, 500 meters

The son of Austrian immigrants, Leo grew up in Chicago, Illinois, where he first made speed skating the center of his life. Leo won the bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics and was also a National and North American Champion. During the 1950s he and his wife Mae performed for the Holiday on Ice revue. In 1964 he returned to the Olympics as coach of the United States speed skating team. His star athlete, Terry McDermott, won the only gold medal for the United States at the Winter Games that year. The team had trained in Milwaukee, and when the city's Olympic Ice Rink opened on December 17, 1966, Leo became its first manager.

Dianne Holum (b. 1951)

1968 Olympics, Grenoble, France
Silver Medal: 500 meters
Bronze Medal: 1000 meters
1972 Olympics, Sapporo, Japan
Gold Medal: 1500 meters
Silver Medal: 3000 meters

Dianne, a Chicago native, began training at the Olympic Ice Rink in Milwaukee shortly after it opened in 1966. After competing in two Olympics and winning four medals, Dianne retired at the age of twenty to become a coach. Her most famous pupils were Eric and Beth Heiden. She continued coaching members of United States speed skating teams, including her daughter Kristin, through the 1998 Olympic Games. Besides coaching, Dianne taught physical education at two Milwaukee high schools.

Sheila Young (b. 1950)

1976 Olympics, Innsbruck, Austria
Gold Medal: 500 meters
Silver Medal: 1500 meters
Bronze Medal: 1000 meters

After growing up in Birmingham, Michigan, Sheila came to the Olympic Ice Rink in Milwaukee to train for the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. She almost won a medal in 1972, placing fourth in the 500 meters. In 1976 she became the first woman to win three medals at a Winter Olympics. Sheila married James Ochowicz, an Olympic cyclist. Their daughter, Elli Ochowicz, has continued the family tradition, competing in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics as a speed skater. The family lived in Waukesha, Wisconsin for many years before moving to California.

Leah Poulos (b. 1951)

1976 Olympics, Innsbruck, Austria
Silver Medal: 1000 meters
1980 Olympics, Lake Placid, New York
Silver Medals: 500 meters, 1000 meters

Like Diane Holum and Sheila Young, Leah Poulos of Northbrook, Illinois came to Milwaukee to train at the Olympic Ice Rink. She competed in the 1972, 1976, and 1980 Olympics. Just prior to the 1976 Olympics, Leah's photo appeared on a Kellogg's Corn Flakes box. In 1977 she married gold medalist Peter Mueller, and later became a lawyer in the Milwaukee area.

Bonnie Blair (b. 1964)

1988 Olympics, Calgary, Canada
Gold Medal: 500 meters
Bronze Medal: 1000 meters
1992 Olympics, Albertville, France
Gold Medals: 500 meters, 1000 meters
1994 Olympics, Lillehammer, Norway
Gold Medals: 500 meters, 1000 meters

Bonnie Blair, one of America's most famous speed skaters, grew up in Champaign, Illinois. After graduating from high school, Bonnie came to Wisconsin to train at the Olympic Ice Rink and later the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. She competed at the 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1994 Olympics and became the first woman to win five individual Olympic gold medals in any sport. After retiring from speed skating, Bonnie married Olympic teammate David Cruickshank. The couple raised a family in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Kip Carpenter (b. 1979)

2002 Olympics, Salt Lake City, Utah
Bronze Medal: 500 meters

Kip began skating at the age of six in his hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. His father flooded the backyard every winter so he and his brother Cory could skate. Around 1994 Kip and his family moved to Brookfield, Wisconsin so he and Cory could train at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. Kip earned a place in the top 20 of the World Cup standings in the 500- and 1000-meter races for several years starting with the 2001-2002 season.